Lilia Ann Abron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lilia Ann Abron
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| Born | March 8, 1945 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Education | LeMoyne–Owen College (BS) Washington University in St. Louis (MS) University of Iowa (PhD) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur Chemical Engineer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | First African American woman to be awarded a PhD in chemical engineering |
Lilia Ann Abron (born March 8, 1945) is an amazing American business owner and chemical engineer. She made history in 1972 by becoming the first African American woman to earn a special advanced degree called a PhD in chemical engineering. This means she was a pioneer in her field!
Contents
Early Life and Family
Lilia Ann Abron was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second of four daughters. When she was born, she arrived early and had to be rushed to the hospital by her aunt in a taxi. At that time, ambulances were not available for African Americans.
Her parents were both teachers who had gone to LeMoyne College. Her father, Ernest Buford Abron, worked as a Pullman porter (someone who helps passengers on trains) and later became a teacher. Her mother, Bernice Wise Abron, was a typist. She typed important legal documents for Wiley A. Branton, who was a lawyer for the Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who bravely went to a previously all-white high school in 1957.
Lilia's parents were Baptists, and she was baptized when she was nine years old. She was also a Girl Scout and sang in her church's junior choir. She went to public school and was very good at math and science. After high school, she first thought about studying medicine.
Education and Discovering Engineering
Lilia Abron attended LeMoyne-Owen College. She received a scholarship, but she lost it after her first year because her grades weren't high enough. She then changed her major from biology to chemistry. In 1966, she earned her first degree, a B.S. in chemistry, from LeMoyne-Owen College with high honors.
Her advisor at LeMoyne-Owen, Dr. Bueler, suggested she study engineering. Another important person who inspired her was Dr. Juanita Williamson, an English Professor at LeMoyne-Owen. Lilia was offered a full scholarship from Washington University in St. Louis to study sanitary engineering. This scholarship was paid for by the Public Health Service.
Washington University was a big change for Lilia. It was her first time living away from home. She was also one of only two women in a large class, and most of her classmates were white men. Despite this, she finished her entire master's degree in just thirteen months! In 1968, she graduated with an MS in Environmental Engineering. While studying there, she decided she wanted to work in universities and gained experience in her professors' labs.
After getting her master's degree, Lilia found it hard to find a job as an environmental engineer. She worked for a year as an environmental chemist in Kansas City. Then, she worked for another year as a research environmental chemist in Chicago.
She started her PhD in September 1968 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She later moved with her professor to the University of Iowa. Even though her professor left before she finished, she completed her degree in chemical engineering in 1972. Her research focused on how to remove harmful chemicals like DDT from water using special membranes.
Lilia Ann Abron became the first African American woman to earn a PhD in chemical engineering. She was also only the third woman ever to receive a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Iowa.
Career and Achievements
After earning her PhD, Dr. Abron became an assistant professor of civil engineering at Tennessee State University in 1971. She also taught environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University starting in 1973. In 1975, she moved to Howard University as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. At the same time, she worked at Washington Technical Institute.
Dr. Abron is a licensed professional engineer. She is a member of several important organizations, including the Water Environment Federation and the American Society of Civil Engineers. She also helps advise the National Science Foundation on engineering matters.
In 2004, she was chosen as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2020, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This honor recognized her leadership in creating sustainable housing and environmental solutions in the United States and South Africa. She was also inducted into Tau Beta Pi, a prestigious engineering honor society.
Dr. Abron gave a TED talk in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Her talk was about how communities can work together to solve energy poverty. In 2020, she was re-inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. She also received the highest honor from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2021. As of January 2021, she became the president of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. In March 2024, she was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
PEER Consultants, P.C.
In 1978, Dr. Abron started her own company called PEER Consultants, P.C. She became its president and CEO. She was the first African American person to start an engineering consulting firm that focused on environmental issues. PEER offers services like engineering, construction management, and environmental advice.
Through her company, Dr. Abron showed that using sustainable practices can greatly improve living conditions in poorer parts of the world. In 1995, she helped start PEER Africa Pty. (Ltd.). This company's goal was to build energy-efficient homes in South Africa after the end of apartheid (a system of racial segregation). Dr. Abron received a United Nations award for her work in developing these affordable, energy-efficient homes. The company worked on projects across Africa, including in South Africa, Mali, Uganda, and Nigeria.
PEER has also worked on many Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects. They have partnered with an organization called the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP). This group works to fix the problem of unequal access to clean water and sanitation in rural Alabama.
Personal Life and Interests
Lilia Abron is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She often gives talks and presentations about energy and the environment. She is very active in promoting science education. Her company, PEER Consultants, even offers financial help to students who participate in science fairs. PEER staff are encouraged to work with students in their local schools, and Dr. Abron herself mentors students.
She has said that the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson inspired her to get involved in the environmental movement.
Dr. Abron is a Christian. She began a three-year term serving as a deacon at The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. in June 2018. She also used to be the president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of Jack and Jill for America, an organization for children. She also plays the hand bells in her church choir.
Lilia Abron has three sons and six grandchildren.
Honors and Awards
- William W. Grimes Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1993
- Admission to the Engineering Distinguished Alumni Academy at the University of Iowa, 1996
- Hancher-Finkbine Alumni Medallion from the Finkbine Society of the University of Iowa, 1999
- Induction into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, 1999
- Magic Hands Award by LeMoyne-Owen College, May 2001
- Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2001
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2004
- Superior Achievement from American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists, 2012
See also
In Spanish: Lilia Ann Abron para niños
